2016 Interim Results

July 22, 2016

Yorkshire Building Society has today announced a robust first half performance for 2016, with core operating profit of £62.5m, profit before tax of £99.9m and assets totalling £39.6bn.

Remaining true to its mutual values, the UK’s second-largest building society offered savers better than market average rates and launched mortgages with some of the lowest rates available to UK borrowers, supporting more than 3,000 people to buy their first home. In highly competitive markets its savings balances grew to £29.4bn (31 December 2015: £27.9bn) and mortgage balances grew to £34.0bn (31 December 2015: £33.3bn).

The Society also retained its status as one of the UK’s most trusted financial services providers, consistently ranking in the top three for customer trust1 and achieved its highest ever Net Promoter Score® of +332 compared to the industry average of +83.

2016 interim results key highlights

Robust financial performance, maintaining its position as a leading mortgages and savings provider: statutory profit before tax of £99.9m (30 June 2015: £111.2m) and core operating profit of £62.5m (30 June 2015: £115.9m).

Further strengthened capital position: common equity tier 1 capital of 14.6%
(31 December 2015: 14.5%) and maintained a leverage ratio of 5.0% (31 December 2015: 5.0%).

Supported borrowers with over 700 mortgage best buys, more than any other lender4.

Named Business of the Year at the Third Sector Business Charity Awards.

Continued to make a positive impact on communities: raised over £960,000 for Marie Curie5 and made a donation of £740,000 to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance based on the level of deposits in affinity savings accounts.

Chris Pilling, Yorkshire Building Society Chief Executive, said: “I'm pleased to report a robust financial performance during what remains a highly competitive and challenging market in line with our financial plans.

“We have continued to offer good long-term value to our 3.3m customers at the same time as achieving healthy levels of profit which maintain our financial strength and sustainability.

“As a member-owned organisation, providing outstanding customer service is a key priority and I am delighted that we have achieved record Net Promoter Scores® and that our customers consistently rate us as an organisation they can trust.

“In the first half of the year, against a backdrop of an unpredictable economic environment and competitive trading conditions, we have remained true to our mutual ethos, focusing on our core mortgages and savings business to help people buy the homes they want and to save for their futures.

“With market-leading mortgages we helped more than 3,000 people take the first step on the housing ladder and supported many more to own a home of their choice.

“Our savings rates have been on average 1.40% compared to the market average of 1.00%. Continuing to offer long-term value to our savers is a key priority. However, it is important that we also maintain rates that ensure financial sustainability and therefore are not out of line with the market.

“Despite the challenges the Society and other financial services providers may face as a result of economic and political uncertainty, we remain in a strong position to continue investing in, and growing our business on behalf of our members.”

Achieved a six-month average Net Promoter Score of +327 compared to an industry average of +88, and highest ever Net Promoter Score of +33 in May and June.

Provided over 700 best buy mortgage products, more than any other lender9.

Continued to help borrowers make their money go further with one in 10 direct mortgages taken on offset products.

Delivered value to our members by providing an average savings rate of 1.40% against the industry average of 1.00%10.

More than 78,000 accounts opened by savers.

Asset quality remains strong, with the value of loans in arrears by more than three months further reduced to 0.77% (December 2015: 0.89%), lower than the industry average.

Introduced an online mortgage appointment booking tool allowing customers to book an appointment direct into an advisor’s diary.

Diversified our funding base to support mortgage lending by issuing £400m of 10 year senior unsecured notes in April 2016, demonstrating market confidence in the Group.

Recognised for our excellent product range and outstanding customer service with a total of thirteen industry awards, including Best First Time Buyer Mortgages11, Best Fixed Rate Mortgage Provider12 and Best Building Society Mortgage Provider13.

Made a positive impact on our colleagues and communities

Launched our new first-line manager development programme, designed to support our leaders in developing their teams.

Contributed more than 8,500 hours of colleague volunteering support to charities, schools and community groups.

Raised £967,000 since June 2014 (£144,000 Jan-Jun 2016) for Marie Curie, funding more than 48,000 hours of nursing care14.

Donated £157,000 to charities and local good causes through the Charity Choices initiative of the Yorkshire Building Society Charitable Foundation, which is largely funded by members through the Small Change Big Difference® scheme.

Won three awards for our community and charity work, including Employee Engagement Initiative of the Year at the Third Sector Business Charity Awards, in addition to our Business of the Year win.

Notes

1YBS Brand Tracker, conducted by YouGov

2KPMG Nunwood Customer Voice Programme, +29 (12 month score, January to December 2015, based on interviews with 28,329 customers), +33 (June 2016) average +32 (6 month score, January to June 2015, based on interviews with 15,518 customers)

5Since June 2014, start of the Hour of Need campaign (£144,000 2016 YTD)

6As at 31 May 2016

7KPMG Nunwood Customer Voice Programme, +29 (12 month score, January to December 2015, based on interviews with 28,329 customers), +32 (6 month score, January to June 2015, based on interviews with 15,518 customers)

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Yorkshire Building Society is a member of the Building Societies Association and is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Yorkshire Building Society is entered in the Financial Services Register and its registration number is 106085. Head Office: Yorkshire House, Yorkshire Drive, Bradford BD5 8LJ.

References to 'YBS Group' or 'Yorkshire Group' refer to Yorkshire Building Society, the trading names under which it operates (Chelsea Building Society, the Chelsea, Norwich & Peterborough Building Society, N&P and Egg) and its subsidiary companies.

Egg is a registered trademark of Yorkshire Building Society.

End Youth Homelessness (EYH) is a national movement of local charities working together to end youth homelessness in the UK. EYH trades through its designated Administrator, Centrepoint (charity number 292411).

Small Change Big Difference® is a registered trademark of Yorkshire Building Society.

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